Weds., May 24, 2006, 10:28 a.m., D.S.T., Nashville, Tennessee~

Dear Audrey~

You don't know  how much it gladdens my heart to hear from you; yet at the same time, however, my heart is breaking because of what has happened to your daughter, Maria. I am so sorry; is there anything I can do? This shouldn't have happened!!

I hope and pray that Susie is found alive before it is too late. Please let me know anything as it becomes available to you! It sure sounds like to me that young Susie may be getting abused!

I dare not tell Ronee' about this; it would break her heart! Ronee' has such a tender spirit, and she cannot stand people being mistreated, particularly children!

I am glad that you are working at Fire Mountain. Fire Mountain is such a wonderful place to eat! We were last there on Mother's Day: my beautiful family treated me to a wonderful meal, and it was super! We usually go there on Sundays before church (or at Golden Corral, which is where we have been going lately), and the people at both Fire Mountain and Golden Corral have treated us well. They have never complained about us showing up on an early Sunday morning, and they have made the area ready for us even before our bus pulls up in the parking lot!

Speaking of Fire Mountain, my daughters (Camey and Tammi) work there, and they have been enjoying it. Tammi has been bringing home the big bucks, and she is becoming very self-reliant. Camey loves rolling the silverware, and she has been bringing home some money, too; the servers appreciate her rolling the silverware because then they don't have to do it unless it is necessary!

We are doing well: we are getting ready to add to the family. (No, I am NOT pregnant.) We are adopting a little boy, aged seven, from Russia, who has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair. His name is Vlademir Aleksander, and he should be coming by June the fifteenth. So far, we haven't heard anything different; no news is good news, as they say! The children are, as you can imagine, beyond excited: they are really looking forward to the arrival of little Vlademir!

You would think that, after adopting fifty plus children, adding yet another child to the family would be old hat, that it gets old; but it never does! Once a child comes into our home, we welcome him (or her) joyfully, and it isn't long before this child carves himself (herself) into our hearts; we are immediately smitten! :)

I have been busy trying to answer e-mails, but I am not very good at it lately. I am sorry for not writing sooner; but something about your latest letters prompted me to do so. Again, I am terribly sorry for your loss; please know that you are in my prayers, and if there is anything you need (or if you just need to vent), I am as close to you as the phone (or the computer). I will make time to talk or write to you. Please know that I send you my deepest sympathy on your daughter's passing. I hope that God gives you the peace and comfort that passes all understanding!

Well, I will go now; have to get back to my eating. I am at work, and I am on break, where I am eating lunch in the cafeteria. I will write to you again; please know that I am not mad at you in any way, and that I will be writing to you soon. God bless you, Audrey, and have courage! God is in the midst of your pain; He does care what is happening to you, and He will bring you out of it! Just learn to trust in Him and call on Him!

(((HUGS))) and much love (and many prayers), your friend in Tennessee, Louie May. :( >tears<